Game of skill



Sept. 14, 1937.

H. G. BR EITENSTEIN GAME OF. SKILL Filed June 15, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 lhjehif ErberififireimZQw.

Sept. 14, 1937. I G,.IB RUEI"IY' EQNSTE'IN GAME QFSK'ILL Filed June 15, 19-54 5 she ts-snee 2 haw?" rri firetzensiem a pm QP H Q Sept. 14, 1937. H. G. BREITENSTEIN GAME OF SKILL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1954 Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES GAME OF SKILL Herbert G. Breitenstein, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Raymond T. Moloney, Chicago, Ill.

Application June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,819

20 Claims.

The invention relates to a game of skill of the well known ball projecting and ball trapping type. More particularly it relates to certain improvements in the mechanism thereof to make the play of the game more fascinating and interesting. Reference is made to applicants copending application, Serial Number 721,119, filed April 18, 1934, over which this application is an improvement.

The main object of the invention is to provide mechanism controlled by a skilfully directed ball to cause movement of previously played balls already trapped to build up scores and create player interest.

Another object is to provide a master target or hole which is adapted to receive a well directed ball to initiate operation of mechanism that will release previously trapped balls to cause them to roll down the play board to score again in other holes.

Still another object is to provide such ball controlled means to operate mechanism for permitting the player to project over again such balls, already played, that may be trapped in a spent ball trap.

It is also an object to provide such ball controlled means that will automatically operate a projector device to move a ball from one trap to another of higher scoring value.

Another important object is to provide such ball controlled means that will cause all of these things to happen simultaneously, thus providing considerable action for the players amusement.

Also, it is an object to provide a translationally movable platform carrying a plurality of ball seats to raise a plurality of balls simultaneously .out of their traps to cause them to roll down the play board to build up scores by passing to other holes, said platform moving means operating automatically when a skilfully directed ball is trapped by a certain master hole.

Other important objects will become apparent to those versed in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briefly, such important objects may be attained by the preferred example of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein-is shown, an inclined play board having a master control ball trapping hole near its upper end. Adjacent said hole and further down the board are a plurality of holes beneath which is a horizontal platform carrying seats to carry balls in each of said plurality of holes. If these seats carry trapped balls, a ball subsequently trapped in the master hole causes mechanism to operate that will translationally raise the platform with its seats, to cause the balls thereon to leave their holes and roll down the board to other holes having additional scoring values. At the same time any spent balls held in a spent ball trap are released to return to the player for replay. Further, one or more automatic projectors are located on the board and if a ball should be trapped in position in front of said projector or projectors the same will be automatically projected toward the upper end of the board to a hole or holes having higher scoring values. So much will suffice in presenting a general view of the improved mechanism. Looking now to the drawings, it will be seen that: 1

Figure 1 is a general plan view of the game;

Figure 2 is a similar plan viewof the game with the top board removed to illustrate the interior mechanism;

Figure 3 is a side elevational detail view partly in section to show the ball lifter, as seen along the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a side sectional detail View of the I ball operated switch under the master hole as seen along the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the game showing the bottom-most board and ball return structure; in other words, the two upper boards are here removed;

Figure 6 is a detail view, partly in section, to show the solenoid shifted ball support for the spent ball opening as seen along the line 66, appearing in Figure 2 and viewed in the indicated direction;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the game taken along the line 1'l of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal, cross sectional detail view of the means for releasing balls from the spent ball opening, taken along the same line as Figure 7 but on a larger scale;

Figure 9 is a longitudinal detail sectional view of the platform and seats for unseating seated balls, taken along the line 9-9 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a detail, enlarged, sectional view through the automatically fired projector on the game board taken along the line lO-lll of Figure 11, looking in the direction indicated; 7

Figure 11 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal detail sectional view through an indicator as seen along the line |2--|2 of Figure 1; and,

Figure 13 is a similar sectional view through one of the trap doors taken along the line |3-|3 of Figure 1.

The game embodies a rectangular box l5 comprising two side walls, two end walls, a bottom, and a glass enclosed top I6. The play field is shown as an upper inclined board or panel |1, carrying a cut out marginal member l8 to form an oval track l9. At the lower right hand side is provided a ball projector 20, manually operable by a plunger handle 2| to shoot balls onto the track l9, said track being further defined by a rail 22 and a rail 23 so that the projected balls make a complete loop around the board I1, and emerge onto the upper end of said board from the passage 24. Adjacent the lower end of the board I1 is a register plate 25 provided with a transverse slot in which are located a plurality of ball operated score indicators 26, which will later be more fully described.

At the lower end of the board I1 is an elon gated transverse spent ball opening 21 (see Figure 8). At the upper end of the board I1 is a master or control hole 28 in the board. Immediately below and to each side of the hole 28 are four holes 29 in which are seats 30 carried on a plate 3| (see Figure '7) also inclined parallelwith the board I1 and spaced slightly therebelow. This plate 3| is hung from the stationary board H by depending lugs 32 which are shiftable longitudinally with the plate 3|. Slots 33 are formed in the board H for this purpose. Under the board H the upper edge of each hole 29 is recessed'at 34 to accommodate the seats 3|] when the plate 3| is shifted.

Below the holes 29 is a battery of six holes 35 in the top board |1 there being a plunger seat 36 in each of said holes to support balls that may be trapped therein. As shown in Figure 9 these plunger seats 36 are slidably mounted in bearings 31 carried on the plate 3|. Each hole' 35 includes a recess 38 in the board H to accommodate the seats 36 when the plate 3| is shifted. Below each seat 36 the plate 3| is formed with a hole 39 for a purpose later to appear,

' The plungers 36 are heavy and freely slidable in the bearings 31 and'as a result in the normal position they fall down to the full line position shown in Figure 9. Below the plate 3| and spaced therefrom is an inclined board 40 substantially parallel with the board I! and plate 3|. See also Figure 7. The board 40 is stationary and fastened in any suitable way in the box l5. The side walls of said box |5 carry brackets 4i, asshown also in Figure 5, upon which is secured a cross rest 42 having a vertical hole centrally formed therethrough to receive a vertically movable core 43 of a solenoid 44. The solenoid is connected by a collar 45 securely to the board 4|]. The top end of the core or armature 43 has secured to it by a screw 45 a platform 46 which is positioned normally on the rest 42. r

The solenoid 44 has an electric wire 41 leading to another solenoid 48 carried in an opening 49 formed in a ball routing casting 50 'atthe lower end. of the box. This casting embodies a transverse inclined trough 5|; anothersimilar trough through to the trough 52byo means of a horizontal shiftable support 54 normally disposed between the hole 21 and trough 52. The support 54 includes a transverse, depending portion 55 which is directly connected, as by welding, to the horizontal core 56 of the solenoid 48.

A wire 51 leads from the solenoid 48 to the upper left hand corner of the box |5 where it is in circuit with a battery 58. The end wall of the box |5 adjacent said battery carries a forwardly and downwardly inclined channel support or chute 59 as shown in Figure 4. In its bottom is disposed a normally upstanding flat spring 66 having at its free end a contact 6| adapted to engage a contact 62 in circuit with a wire 63 leading to the solenoid 44. A wire 64 leads from the spring to the battery 58 as shown. When a ball drops through the master hole 28 it is received by the channel chute 59 and its weight moves the spring 60 down to engage the contacts 6|, 62. This closes the circuit described and simultaneously energizes both solenoids 44, 48. Thus the armature 43 moves up to raise the platform 46 which engages the plungers 36 to raise the balls thereon out of the holes 35, said balls thereupon gravitating down the board |1 possibly to be trapped by other holes lower down to build up scores. Similarly, the armature 56 moves horizontally to shift the support 54 away from under the hole 21 causing the spent balls therein to drop into the chute 52 from whence they roll down the inclined trough 53 to the right hand'end of trough 5| which-leads the balls into position adjacent a ball lifter for free replay.

This lifter is shown in Figure 3 at 63. It is arcuately shaped and formed as part of an arm 66 pivoted at 61 to the box side. carried in the box end wall engages an arm 69 of the lifter to move it about the pivot 61. The part travels in an'arcuate groove 16 in the box side. The balls gravitate one at a time from the trough 5| into position in front of the lifter which when operated by the pusher moves the balls up in the groove 10 and laterally by a deflector 1| into position in front of the shooter 26 already described. The ball which fell through the master hole, 28 rolls off the chute 59 after closing the electrical circuit and drops onto the inclined board 40-which routes the said ball to the trough 5| forfree replay. A deflector 12 serves to guide balls rolling down the board 40 to the trough 5| A pusher 68 ary U-shapedbrackets 14 secured to the casting 5ll, one on each side of the solenoid 48. guide bolts 13vmove ahead with the part 55 against the resistance of springs 15 encircling the bolts. Thus, after the armature 56 has moved to shift the support 54, it becomes deenergized as the contacts 6 62 open, and then these springs 15 are operative to push the support 54 and core 56 back to their normal positions.

Further down the board from the holes 35 the board I1 is provided with a number of holes 16 each of which holes as shown in Figure 13 includes a notch 11 across which is a pin 18 to which is hinged a trapdoor 19, having a right angular tail 8.0 adapted when the door is in hole closing position to extend into a hole 8| in the plate 3|. The leg. or tail 89 is resiliently pressed by ailat spring 82 connected to a clip 83 secured in the notch 11. These doors are .provided for each of the holes 16 and each normally is open as shown in dotted'linesin Figure 13. Thus the leg 86 is horizontally disposed in these holes. Ob-

The

viously when a ball drops into one of these holes I8 the leg 89 is moved down to close the door I9 in the hole. The spring 82 acts when the door is over dead center either resiliently to hold the door open or closed.

The balls dropping thus through these holes I6 fall onto a third inclined board or panel 84 which, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, is formed with a number of ball routing alleyways 85 which lead the trapped balls from each of said holes I6 to a ball storage tray 86 shown in Figure 12. See also Figure 7.

This tray is pocketed and extends transversely across the lower edge of the third board 84, which board, by the way, is shiftably mounted, as will soon appear. When a ball thus routed arrives at the tray it stops against the leg 81 pivoted on a shaft 88 and formed with the indicator 26.

This indicator segment 26 therefore is moved into score indicating position. Its movement in either direction is limited between stops 89. The tray 66 includes a rearwardly extending transverse loop 90 normally disposed 'over the casting 50, as shown. When the board 84 is manually shifted ahead the loop 90 resets the segments 26 to non-indicating position. The tray 86 then also moves away from the legs 81, which permits any collected balls to roll out of the pockets 86 to gravitate onto the chute 5| disposed therebeneath, such balls now returning to the lifter ready for a new play.

An automatic projector, simulating a gun barrel 9|, is arranged on each side of the board I! and directly in front of each member 9| is a hole 92 closed by a trap door 93 hinged at 94 for downward opening movement as' shown in Figures 10 and 11. This door includes an integrally formed angular leg 95 normally resting on a rest 98 carried across a slot 9! formed in the plate 3| below said hole 92. When the leg 95 rests on the support 96 the door 93 is held in hole closing position.

A ball is shown in dotted lines in Figure 10 lodged in front of the projector 9|. The object now is to cause automatic operation of the projector to advance the ball up the inclined board IT to a hole 98 formed through the board I! as shown. These two holes 98 are backed by a row of pins 99 to insure that a projected ball will not overshoot the holes 98. The projector comprises a hammer I00 in the barrels 9| having a downturned extension |0I bent back at I02 and slidably carried by a guide I03 under the board 3|. Flat links or bars I04 are similarly slidingly carried under the plate 3|, said links extending to the upper portion of the plate 55. Obviously now, when the Solenoid 48 is energized the plate 55 moves against the end of these two links or bars I04 to push them and the projector I00 ahead to strike the ball off the door 93 to the hole 98 which in practice will have a high scoring value. A spring I05 serves to return these parts after they have operated.

The board 84 is connected to the plate 3| so that the two may be conjointly shifted manually, such means comprising a U-shaped bracket I06 as shown in Figure 7 carrying a bolt I01 slidingly fitted into a bracket I08 connected under the lower edge of the plate 3|. A spring I09 encircles the bolt I0I.

These plates 84, 3| are coin released and shifted manually through a standard coin slide I ll) having an extension I to abut the part I05.

By this means the board 84 can be shifted to carry the plate 3| with it; the support 54 being also moved by means of hooks I|2 connected with the loop 90 to pick up the part 55 as the board 84 shifts. The operation and use of the game mechanism is as follows.

A coin is inserted by the player into the slide 0 which enables the same to be pushed into the box manually causing 'the extension thereof to move the two boards 3|, 84 conjointly,

and at the same time to shift the support 54 therewith. Thus any balls collected in the spent ball opening 21 fall through the board I! by gravity into the trough thereunder and thence to the trough 5| to be moved by gravity one at a time into position in front of the ball elevator 65 to be raised up the groove I0 and into shooting position in front of the projector 20. The pusher 68 operates the lifter and the plunger 2| operates the shooter 20.

Any balls that may be lodged in front of the automatic projectors 9| on the trap doors 93 will also fall through the board I1 and the holes 92 therein, because inward shifting of the plate 3| moves the rest 96 from under the leg 95. Thus the weight of the ball causes the doors 93 to pivot downwardly to the dotted line position shown in Figure 10. As the part I00 advances with the board 3| it merely rides over the top of the descending ball without interfering with this operation.

The same cycle of manually initiated movement of the board 3| moves the seats 36 into the notches 38 and the seats 30 into the notches 34. Consequently any balls on. these seats are now free to drop through the holes 39, for example, and onto the sloping stationary board 49 and into the ball delivery trough 5|.

Other balls which may have been trapped by the holes I6 move down the alleys 85 and pockets 86 where they collect. As the board 84 moves, the bail or loop 90 resets the indicators 26 and permits the balls in said pockets 86 to roll therefrom and into the trough 5|. Balls that may have dropped through the two holes 98 may fall through the board I'I, hole 91 and plate 3| to the lower board 40 and go to the delivery chute or trough 5|. Thus all of the predetermined number of balls sealed in the box I5 are loaded in the trough 5| ready for play. The movement of the panel 3! has also reopened any closed doors I9.

The player now releases the slide H0 and the usual springs, not shown, return the slide H0 and the shiftable panels or boards 84, 3| to normal position. As the panel 3| returns the rest position. The halls are now fired by the manual projector, one at a time, onto the field H. A

ball entering holes 35 comes to rest on the plunger seats 36. Balls entering holes 29 remain seated on the seats 30 during the whole play cycle. Ballsmay lodge on the doors 93 in front of the automatic projectors 9|. through theholes I6 close their trap doors l9 and enter the alleys 85 to be guided to the pockets 88 and to actuate the score indicators 26. Balls entering the spent ball hole 27 come to rest on the support. 54.

If by extremely skilful play a ballcan now be projected into the master hole 28 wefind a number of fascinating operations occur. The ball closes the electrical circuits described by momentarily engaging the contacts GI, 62. Momentarily the two solenoids 44, 48 are energized.

Other balls falling Thus the core 43 raises the platform'46 to lift the plunger seats 36 and release the balls therefrom and the holes 35. These balls are now freed to gravitate down the board I! and possibly into other score holes lower down on the field to accumulate additional scores. The instant the circuit is broken when the ball drops off the chute 59 the platform 46 drops to rest on the part 42 by gravity and the ball goes to the sloping board 40 to be returned to the chute or trough 5] for a free replay.

The same action of closing the circuit simultaneously moves the horizontal core 56 of the solenoid 48 forwardly or to the right as seen in Figure 8. This shifts the support 54 from under the hole 21 whereupon the trapped spent balls return to the ball delivery trough 5| for replay in the manner already described. As the part 55 shifts with the support 54 it pushes the bars I04 to operate automatically the projector striker I to move the balls lodged in front of these guns to the higher value scoring holes 98, the balls then falling part way through the board to lodge on the plate 3|. The springs I05 and serve to return these shiftable parts to normal position the instant the circuit is open and the solenoid is deenergized. After all balls have thus been played the score is tabulated by reading and adding the numerical values on the indicators 26 and adjacent the holes 29, 35, 16 and 98.

From this description it will now be. seen that an improved amusement game is provided that involves considerable action if skilfully played, and which achieves all of the desirable objects for the invention heretofore recited.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications not departing from the scope of the invention as hereinafter defined in the claims.

What is claimed is: l

1. A game having an inclined board provided with a plurality of holes to trap balls projected thereto, a platform movably mounted below said board including seats to hold balls trapped in said holes, and means operated by a ball falling through another hole formed in the board to cause said platform to raise bodily and simultaneously free all balls in said plurality of holes to roll down said board.

2. A game having an inclined board provided with a plurality of holes to trap balls projected thereto, a platform movably mounted below said board including seats to hold balls trapped in said holes, and means operated by a ball falling through another hole formed in the board to cause said platform to be moved translationally upwardly to free all balls in said plurality of holes to roll down said board.

3. A game having an inclined board provided with a plurality of holes to trap balls projected thereto, a platform movably mounted below said board including seats to hold balls trapped in said holes, said board also formed with another hole, a circuit closer under the said other hole, a solenoid below the platform, said circuit closer being closed when a ball is projected through the other hole to cause the solenoid to raise the platform and free the balls trapped in said plurality of holes and permit them to roll down the board.

4. A game having an'inclined board'provided with a hole to trap a ball projected thereto, a platform movably mounted below said hole including a seat to support a ball in said hole, said board also form-ed with another hole, and means controlled by another ball falling through said other hole to raise said platform translationally to free the ball on the seat and from its hole to roll down said board.

5. A game having an inclined board provided with a hole to trap a'ball projected thereto,'a platform movably mounted below said hole including a seat to support a ball in said hole, said board also formed with another hole, and electrical'means including asolenoid controlled by another ball scoring in said other hole to raise said platform translationally to free the ball on the seat and from its hole to roll down said board.

6. In a game having an inclined board over which balls maybe played, a projector on the board in front of which a played ball may lodge, a normally closed trap door in front of the projector on which a played ball may lodge, means controlled by another subsequently played ball to automatically causeoperation of the projector and shoot'the lodged ball off the trap door onto the board, and means to open said trap door to free the lodged ball in the event the projector has not worked.

7. In a game having an inclined board provided with traps and an opening to collect balls missing said traps, a movably mounted support in the opening to hold such balls, and automatically acting means operable when a subsequently played ball is trapped by one of the traps to move said support and free the collected balls for replay.

8. In a game having an inclined board provided with traps and an opening to collect balls missing said traps, a shiftable support in the said opening to hold such balls, and electrically operated means controlled by the trapping of a subsequently played ball to shift said support and free the collected balls therein for replay.

9 In a game having an inclined board provided with holes and a ball collecting pocket, a movable support under the pocket, a contact device under one of the'holes, and electrically controlled means operable when a ball falls through said holeto close the contact and movethe support to cause the balls collected in said pocket to fall through the board for replay.

' 10. In a game having an inclined board provided withholes and a ball collecting pocket, a movable support under the ball pocket, a contact device under one of the holes, and electrically controlled means including a solenoid operable thereon become available for replay.

12. ha game having aninclined board provided with a hole, said board having a movable support at its lower end to collect balls, trap holes also being formed in the board including means to seat balls therein, and electrically operated meanscontrolled by a ball falling through the first mentioned hole to unseat the balls from the trap holes and simultaneously therewith move the support whereby the balls thereon become available'for replay. I r

13. In a game having an inclined board near its upper end with a hole including a ball seat to support a ball therein, movable means at the lower end of the board to collect balls rolling all the way down the board, and means controlled by a ball projected through another hole in the board to free the collected balls and make them available for replay and unseat the ball from the first hole to cause it to roll down the board.

14. In a game having an inclined board formed near its upper end with a plurality of holes including seats to support balls therein, movable means at the lower end of the board to support balls rolling all the way down the board, said board having another hole therein, and means controlled by a ball dropping through the last mentioned hole to unseat the balls seated in the plurality of holes and move the movable means to free the balls supported thereon for replay.

15. In a game having an inclined board formed with a plurality of holes to which balls played over the board may roll, a projector on said board in front of which a played ball may lodge, a seat in one of said holes to support a ball therein, a movable support under one of the holes to collect balls missing said holes, and means controlled by a ball dropping through another of said holes to unseat a ball in the seated hole, move the support and release the spent balls for replay, and operate the projector to fire the ball lodged in front of it.

16. In a game having an inclined board formed with a plurality of holes to which balls played over the board may roll, a projector on said board in front of which a played ball may lodge, a seat in one of said holes to support a ball therein, a movable support under one of the holes to collect balls which miss the holes, and electrically operated means controlled by a ball dropping through another of said holes to unseat a ball seated in the seated hole, move the support and release the spent balls for replay, and operate the projector to fire the ball lodged in front of it.

17. A game having an inclined board formed with a plurality of holes to which balls played over the board may roll, a projector on said board in front of which a played ball may lodge, a pocket formed in the lower end of the board including a movable support for the collecting balls which miss the holes, seats in certain of the holes to support trapped balls therein, and means operable when a ball falls through another certain hole for simultaneously operating the projector to fire the ball lodged in front of it, release and move the support under the ball collecting pocket to free such balls for replay, and raise the seats to cause the balls thereon to roll down the board.

18. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a member providing a playing surface and having a pair of spaced ball exit openings therein; means for propelling balls one at a time over said playing surface so that they may enter into either of said ball exit openings; means for temporarily retaining therein balls which enter into one of said exit openings; and means actuated by a ball dropping through the other of said exit openings for releasing said retaining means so that the balls held thereby may drop through the said one of said exit openings.

19. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a member providing a playing surface and having a pair of spaced ball exit openings therein; means for propelling balls one at a time over said playing surface so that they may enter into either of said exit openings; means for temporarily retaining balls that fall into one of said exit openings against return to said propelling means; and means including an electromagnetic device actuated by a ball dropping through the other of said exit openings for releasing said retaining means so as to allow the-balls held thereby to return to said propelling means.

20. In a game of the character described, the combination of an elongated, longitudinally inclined, playing board having means associated therewith forming a longitudinal series of ball retaining object holes, means for projecting a group of balls, one at a time, to the upper end of the board for gravitation down the board, and electrically operated means controlled by a ball projected onto the board for back-rolling a previously played ball in one of the object holes so that it rolls up the board and lodges in the next higher object hole.

HERBERT G. BREITENSTEIN. 

